Arenas across the country are rocking out on the tournament's opening weekend — but not to the slick, dance-happy recorded versions of the singer's hits. It's the pep bands that are delivering those songs, complete marchable rhythms and blaring horns. Of the eight college bands that trekked to Washington, D.C., for example, only Cincinnati came without a Gaga cover.

"The beat, the speed, the tonality of what she does" all make Gaga a natural choice for pep bands, Old Dominion band director Alex Trevino told NPR's Mike Pesca.

At one point, during an opening-day timeout, ODU was challenged to a Gaga-off by the Butler band across the arena.

"If they want to play, we'll play!" a band member shouted, before his compadres launched into "Bad Romance."